Steam sleeve shaper



Nov.1 8, 1949 R. L. LARSON ET AL STEAM SLEEVE SHAPER Filed Jan. 24, 1947 INVENTQRS HUBERT LLARSON LELAND HLARSON WlLLlKAM K LARSON RNEYS ATT Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM SLEEVE SHAPER Robert L. Larson, Leland H. Larson, and William K. Larson, Chilton, Wis.

Application January 24, 1947, Serial No. 724,024

1 Claim. l

Our invention refers to devices for flattening and creasing the sleeves of a cleaned garment and it has for its object to provide a simple and effective pair of connected hollow expansible portable arms, each arm having encased therein a perforated steam supply pipe, the said pipe having nippled extensions connected by a flexible tube. The said arms are contracted and expanded by a lever connection whereby the device is inserted into a garment sleeve and by manual operation of the lever, the arms are expanded to flatten out and crease said sleeve due to the introduction of steam in the pipe connections.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly dened by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a creasing device embodying the features of my invention with parts broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate structural features.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional View of the same, the section being indicated by line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the master arm, the section being indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is another cross section through the master arm, the section being indicated by line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is another cross sectional view through both the master arm and floating arm, the section being indicated by line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Referring by characters to the drawings, I indicates a hollow bowed master arm provided with a series of apertures l' therein, the said apertures being extended throughout the length of said arm.

The head end of the master arm is provided with a handle I" and extending through the handle and hollow portion of the arm is a steam supply pipe 2. The head end of the pipe extends beyond the handle and has coupled thereto a flexible steam pipe 3, which is controlled by a valve,

2 not shown. The pipe is provided with a series of perforations 2 throughout its length and also a branch nipple 3', which nipple extends inwardly from one edge of the arm.

The above described arm has associated therewith a floating shorter hollow apertured arm 4 closed at its end, it being understood that the pair of arms are bowed parallel to each other.

The oating arm has mounted therein a steam pipe 5 provided with a series of perforations 5 throughout its length.

The lower end of the steam pipe 5 terminates with a nipple 5 extending inwardly from the arm and said nipple and the associated nipple 3 of the master arm pipe are connected by a flexible hose 6 whereby steam introduced into the pipe 2 is supplied to the floating arm pipe 5, as shown.

The pair of bowed arms are connected by a lever 1 pivoted to the master arm near its head end and to the floating arm intermediate of its length, the lever being provided with a handle extension 'l' whereby the same is manually actuated.

As indicated in the drawings, the outer creasing walls of the hollow arms are preferably rounded for gripping engagement with the inner and outer edges of a sleeve whereby a crease is developed in said sleeve in a curved formation.

As indicated in full lines of Figure 1 of the drawings, the creasing device is contracted. Hence, when it is desired to operate upon a sleeve the said device is inserted therein in its contracted position and thereafter it is expanded by manipulating the lever handle 1 to cause the parts to assume their position as indicated in dotted lines, Figure 1. In the use of applicants device, pairs of the sleeve creasing devices, which are portable, are inserted into the sleeves and the coat, being supported upon a hanger, steam is introduced into the perforated expansible arms, whereby the sleeves are steamed and moistened so that they will readily assume their proper creased positions, and after said sleeves are subjected to the moistening bath, the steam is cut off, whereby the suspended coat or coats will be left to dry, and the process of creasing the sleeves is completed.

In the above referred to expanded position the sleeve is stretched or flattened at its inner and outer edges and the device is locked in this expanded position by a suitable clip 8 carried by the handle I and adapted to be slipped over the lever handle 'l'.

Steam is now introduced into the perforated pipe whereby it will escape into the chambers of the hollow arms to develop a certain amount of condensation and thereafter the steam filled arms will, through their apertures, distribute uniformly clouds of steam and moisture to the sleeve and its creasing edges. The steam may now be cut off whereby the sleeve, when properly dried, is shaped and creased in accordance with the proper methods in finishing a garment which has been previously cleaned. It is understood that a plurality of such devices may be used in a cleaning establishment and after each steaming operation the apparatus is quickly removed from the sleeve by contracting the bowed arms to withdraw them from said sleeve.

We claim:

A portable sleeve flattening and creasing device comprising a master perforated hollow arm, having a handle at its head end, a companion floating apertured hollow arm, an actuated lever pivoted to the head end of the master arm and to the central portion of the floating arm, the same being provided with a handle extension, a steam pipe extending from end to end of the master arm, having perforations throughout its length, a

nipple extending inwardly from the pipe through the head end of the master hollow arm, a second perforated steam pipe extending through the length of the iioating arm, having a nipple extending inwardly from the outer end of the floating arm, a hose section between the arms communcating with the nipples, whereby steam is uniformly distributed to both arms, and a single flexible steam supply pipe communicating with the end of the master arm. E

ROBERT L. LARSON. LELAND H. LARSON. WILLIAM K. LARSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS 

